The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Government is hosting a conference on Tuesday, Aug. 6  designed to help caregivers – family members and professionals – gain awareness, education and resources about how best to deal with those living with dementia or other cognitive or memory issues.

Michael Patterson, KTCOG family caregiver specialist, will be one of the speakers at the conference, which begins at 9 a.m. in the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. Patterson was a guest on Thursday’s segment of TownTalk and said the conference will emphasize the importance of caregivers taking time out for self-care.

When Patterson joined KTCOG in 2022, he estimated that he fielded 4 or 5 calls a week.

But now, he said, that number has grown – a lot.

“I receive probably 10 to 20 calls per day,” Patterson said. That translates into 400 or 500 calls in a month, which he said is a “tremendous increase.”

Whether that rise in requests is attributed to people being more aware of how he can help find resources or to something else, Patterson said, at least part of it has to do with individuals recognizing that they can’t provide care alone. “And it’s best not to do it alone,” he noted.

Although dementia is most often associated with memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease, Patterson said it’s an umbrella term that includes numerous challenges of cognitive decline.

Self-care can take many different forms, and Patterson said it’s an important step to allow caring for a loved one with dementia “more rewarding than challenging.”

For some, self-care could mean spending time at a spa or getting a massage.

Those are great options, Patterson said, but it’s not realistic for many caregivers.

If a massage isn’t in the cards, don’t fret. Start with examining how you breathe.

In high stress situations, Patterson said, we often don’t realize that we aren’t breathing “completely.”

Be mindful of inhaling and exhaling completely. Congratulations! You just completed your first self-care activity.

The conference is presented by Dementia Alliance of North Carolina. Melanie Bunn, a registered nurse and dementia care specialist with the alliance, is one of the speakers along with Michael Patterson, KTCOG’s family caregiver specialist.

Family caregivers can register for $10; professional caregivers register for $25 and have the opportunity to earn three continuing education unit credits.

Visit www.DementiaNC.org/2024Henderson to register online or contact Lisa Levine  at 919.832.3732 to register by phone. Walk-in registrations are welcome on the day of the conference.

Visit www.kerrtarcog.org to find out about all the programs and services the KTCOG provides across Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties.

 

 

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